lady go and get
herself robbed again? No;--I don't say but what you're a clever man,
in your way, Mr. Bunfit; but you've not got a hold of the thing
here. Why was Smiler going about like a mad dog,--only that he found
himself took in?"

"Maybe he expected something else in the box,--more than the
necklace,--as was to come to him," suggested Bunfit.

"Gammon."

"I don't see why you say gammon, Gager. It ain't polite."

"It is gammon,--running away with ideas like them, just as if you was
one of the public. When they two opened that box at Carlisle, which
they did as certain as you sit there, they believed as the diamonds
were there. They were not there."

"I don't think as they was," said Bunfit.

"Very well;--where were they? Just walk up to it, Mr. Bunfit, making
your ground good as you go. They two men cut the door, and took the
box, and opened it,--and when they'd opened it, they didn't get the
swag. Where was the swag?"

"Lord George," said Bunfit again.

"Very well,--Lord George. Like enough. But it comes to this.
Benjamin, and they two men of his, had laid themselves out for the
robbery. Now, Mr. Bunfit, whether Lord George and Benjamin were
together in that first affair, or whether they weren't, I can't see
my way just at present, and I don't know as you can see yours;--not
saying but what you're as quick as most men, Mr. Bunfit. If he
was,--and I rayther think that's about it,--then he and Benjamin must
have had a few words, and he must have got the jewels from the lady
over night."

"Of course he did,--and Smiler and Billy Cann knew as they weren't
there."

"There you are, all back again, Mr. Bunfit, not making your
ground good as you go. Smiler and Cann did their job according
to order,--and precious sore hearts they had when they'd got
the box open. Those fellows at Carlisle,--just like all the
provincials,--went to work open-mouthed, and before the party had
left Carlisle it was known that Lord George was suspected."

"You can't trust them fellows any way," said Mr. Bunfit.

"Well;--what happens next? Lord George, he goes to Benjamin, but he
isn't goin' to take the diamonds with him. He has had words with
Benjamin or he has not. Any ways he isn't goin' to take the necklace
with him on that morning. He hasn't been goin' to keep the diamonds
about him, not since what was up at Carlisle. So he gives the
diamonds back to the lady."

"And she had 'em all along?"

"I don't say it was so,--but